For the past week, transportation, biotech, technology, hospitality, and retail employers announced the largest layoffs.

This information is intended for business analysts, corporate strategists, marketers, salespeople, investment analysts, financial advisers, and others who are interested in companies that are contracting. The information can be valuable to job seekers also, to understand companies that are probably not in growth mode.

Top Layoffs week ended 9-17:

Job cuts were down for the past four weeks as less than 50 organizations announced layoffs of over 30 or more employees – this is about 2/3 of the pace most weeks of 2010.

Transportation topped the list, as FedEx services announced over 1,700 layoffs affecting its employees at various US locations while Boeing trimmed 400 employees throughout the US.. Biotech came in second as Genzyme is cutting 1,000 staff from its Cambridge MA operations.

Technology was next as Dell announced 975 layoffs at two NC facilities. Hospitality company Mohegan Sun is cutting 475 workers due to lower tourist attendance and stays, while the Las Vegas Plaza Hotel is laying off 400 employees.

Retail rounded out the list as A & P announced 416 layoffs from 4 Connecticut locations, while Rite-Aid cut 388 workers from its Rome NY operations.

Inclusion on this listing doesn’t mean the entire industry is down, as some from the same sectors appeared on the “Who’s Hiring” article published 9/13/10.

Job seekers: You might want to look in greener pastures than these companies.

Organizations announcing or rumored layoffs for the week ended 9/17/10:

Readers – If you know of employers announcing significant layoff plans, or employers reducing large numbers of employees, please comment below to add to this list.

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